Among The Costs Of War: $20B In Air Conditioning

The amount the U.S. military spends annually on air conditioning in Iraq and Afghanistan: $20.2 billion. That’s more than NASA’s budget. It’s more than BP has paid so far for damage during the Gulf oil spill. It’s what the G-8 has pledged to help foster new democracies in Egypt and Tunisia. “When you consider the [...]

Your Health Podcast: Hammocks Rock For Sleep And Two-Faced Nuts

Nuts and yogurt came out as big winners in new research we discuss in this week’s podcast, while potatoes were losers. The contest? Which foods can help you keep weight off as you age. Nuts also came up big in a post about food allergies, though in a more ominous light: They’re one of the [...]

How A New York ‘Murder’ Sparked The Tabloid Wars

In summer of 1897, a group of New York kids found a headless torso floating in the East River. At first, the police thought it was a prank being played by medical students, who were known to leave cadaver fingers and limbs lying around just for laughs. But the next day, the lower torso and [...]

‘Cars’ Fans Get Their Rusty Kicks On Route 66

If you’re planning to take your kids to see Cars 2 this weekend, there’s another trip you might want to consider taking — down Route 66 to the small town of Galena, Kan. I head down the historic route, traveling from Joplin, Mo., with my 3-year-old son Zeke in tow. I don’t usually take him [...]

Three Critics Pick The Best Books For Summer

There are a couple of ways to approach summer reading. You can think of the long, hot days as the perfect time to kick back with an exciting plot-driven thriller by Stieg Larsson. Or you might feel that summer’s leisurely pace gives you the space you need to take on a more challenging material. (Moby [...]

Has Greece Been Prescribed Bad Medicine For Crisis?

Next week, the Greek government will reveal a five-year austerity plan drafted by the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank. Parliament’s approval is required if Greece is to receive an installment of $17 billion as part of last year’s international bailout. But the new measures include even deeper spending cuts and tax [...]

A Chinese Dissident Is Freed, But He’s Still Not Free

Ai Weiwei, the Chinese artist and human rights activist, was released from prison late Wednesday night, and told western reporters, “In legal terms, I’m — how do you say? — on bail. So I cannot give any interviews. But I’m fine.” The state news agency says Mr. Ai was released after 80 days “because of [...]

The High-Wire-Walking Wallenda Eyes Niagara Falls

Nik Wallenda — of the famed Flying Wallendas circus and stunt performers — hopes to walk over Niagara Falls on a tightrope. But first, he needs the help of the New York government. Right now, it’s illegal to walk across the landmark on a high-wire. This week, the state legislature passed a bill to lift [...]

Food Bank Shortages Lead To Innovation

Food banks around the country are trying to keep their shelves stocked as more people in the U.S. struggle to get enough to eat. Increasingly, that means finding new ways to salvage food that would otherwise go to waste. One innovation is being tested at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee. In a [...]

The FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted’: Two Down, Eight To Go

Little-Known Facts About An Infamous List In The BeginningThe “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” program was launched on March 14, 1950 — a joint effort between the FBI and national news media. Nobody Is THE Most WantedThe list doesn’t rank fugitives in any order; just being on the list makes them all equal priority — the [...]